Drinking coffee and herbal tea may protect against liver diseases

coffee and herbal tea

Researchers found that drinking coffee and herbal tea may protect against liver fibrosis, estimated as the degree of liver stiffness, which is high in extensive scarring of the liver.

Experimental data suggests that, coffee has health benefits on liver enzyme elevations, viral hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cirrhosis, and liver cancer.

liver stiffness

The researchers were curious to find out whether coffee consumption would have a similar effect on liver stiffness measurements in individuals without chronic liver disease.

Researchers from Erasmus MC University Medical Centre, gathered data from 2,424 participants for detailed information on coffee and tea consumption.

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In study researchers divided coffee and overall tea consumption into three categories: none, moderate (>0-3 cups per day), and frequent (?3). Tea consumption was categorized by herbal, green, or black tea and further into none (0) or any (>0) consumption.



Investigators found, consumption of regular coffee was associated with lower odds of high liver stiffness values. While, frequent coffee and any herbal tea, even in small amounts, were associated with lower liver stiffness values.

While, no direct association was found between either coffee or tea and the presence of fat accumulation in the liver. The effect of coffee on lowering the liver stiffness was significant in both the group with and without liver fat.

researchers said, frequent coffee and herbal tea consumption can prevent liver scarring even before the overt liver disease has developed.

In coffee and tea more than 100 components are present, which are contained in very different and varied amounts.

More information: [Journal of Hepatology]